Arroz con Chorizo (Rice with Colombian Sausage) is a traditional dish from my hometown of Antioquia and it is absolutely delicious.
What Is Colombian Arroz con Chorizo?
Arroz con chorizo translates to rice with chorizo sausage. Across Latin America and Spain, there are many variations of rice dishes made with sausage, and the ingredients and preparation are different in every country and family.
This is a classic, comforting Colombian rice dish where sliced chorizo gives extra flavor, while the vegetables and spices bring this dish together. It’s easy to make, filling, and great for weeknights or entertaining.
If you love Colombian food and are looking for a new way to enjoy rice, this recipe is one to add to your collection.
Ingredients You'll Need
The printable recipe card with exact amounts and cooking directions to make this dish is below.
Colombian chorizo: The main ingredient of the dish. Colombian chorizo has its own distinctive seasoning and flavor, so use it if you can find it. But you can replace it with your favorite sausage.
Rice: I like to use long-grain white rice. Feel free to use your favorite.
Onion, scallions and garlic: These build the savory foundation of the dish.
Tomato and bell pepper: They add freshness, color, and flavor.
Oil and seasonings: You can use olive, vegetable or canola oil. I like to use cumin and achiote or sazón with color to bring the ingredients together.
Chicken broth or water: The liquid cooks the rice and allows it to absorb the flavors of the other ingredients.
Tomato Paste: it gives this rice recipe extra flavor and color.
Cilantro: I like to garnish my rice with fresh herbs before serving, you can use parsley instead.
How to Make Arroz con Chorizo
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a pan. Add the onions, scallions and red pepper and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and garlic, and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the cumin, achiote, rice and stir for about 2 minutes.
- Add the chorizo slices, broth and tomato paste, stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for about 25 minutes.
- Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve.
What to Serve With Colombian Arroz con Chorizo
This dish is satisfying and filling on its own, but it also pairs wonderful with traditional Colombian sides.
- Patacones: Crispy fried green plantains add a wonderful contrast to the soft rice.
- Tajadas de plátano maduro: Sweet ripe plantains balance the savory flavor of the chorizo.
- A simple salad: Tomato, onion, lettuce, and avocado make a refreshing side.
- Avocado slices and lime wedges: A simple addition that complements the richness of the sausage.
You can keep the meal simple or add a couple of sides for a more substantial Colombian-style lunch or dinner.
Tips for the Best Results
Let the rice rest for about 10 minutes before serving it, because the texture is better.
The chorizo is the main ingredient, so use your favorite.
Browning the chorizo helps develop a deeper flavor.
Different rice varieties require different amounts of liquid, so follow the proportions in your specific recipe.
Chorizo and broth can already contain a fair amount of salt, so taste before adding it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make arroz con chorizo ahead of time?
Yes. You can prepare it ahead and refrigerate it in an airtight container.This dish a wonderful for weekly meal planning.
Can I use a different type of chorizo?
Yes, although the flavor will be different. Colombian chorizo is different from Mexican and Spanish chorizo, so substitutions may change the seasoning, fat content, and overall taste.
Is arroz con chorizo a main dish or a side dish?
It can be either. Serve generous portions as a main course or smaller portions alongside other Colombian favorites.
More Rice Recipes to Try
(Creamy Rice with Chicken and Sausage) Atollado de Pollo y Chorizo
(Seafood Rice)Arroz Marinero
Arroz Atollado (Creamy Rice with Pork)
Arroz Apastelado (Sticky Rice from the Coast)
Arroz con Chorizo Recipe(Rice with Colombian-Style Sausage)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 2 scallions finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 2 tomatoes peeled and diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon achiote or azafran
- 2 cups uncooked rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 pounds of Colombian chorizo sliced or sausage
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro finely chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a pan. Add the onions, scallions and red pepper and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and garlic, and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the cumin, achiote, rice and stir for about 2 minutes.
- Add the chorizo slices, broth and tomato paste, stir well and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for about 25 minutes.
- Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and serve.
Penny
What brand chorizo do you recommend?
Kati
Does he chorizo need to be pre cooked? I couldn’t slice it cleanly with the natural casing and the insides getting squishy.So I removed the casing and broke up the insides into chunks. Doesn’t look very pretty, but I’m sure it will taste great!
Erica Dinho
Sometimes I freeze the chorizo for an hour and it's easier to slice it..
Karina
I agree Brian! Totally different! South American food is wayyyyy different.
Brian
Colombian chorizo is a lot more like Spanish than Mexican, being coarsely ground in a casing. Besides the paprika, it also has herbal flavors, garlic and cumin. Mexican is NOT a good substitute.
Elaine
This was wonderful. We made it for dinner tonight and we were blown away by how good this was. We are lucky to have a local source for Colombian sausage. Thank you for a terrific dinner, and there is enough left over for another easy meal during the week.
Shery
It is absolutely delicious! I cooked it yesterday for dinner and everyone loved it.
Thank you Erica!
Isabel
I made this over the weekend and it was AMAZING!!!! thank you soo much for posting this. The flavors were just gorgeous!
Jessica
Erica,
Do you have a recipe for Colombian Chorizo? Los quiero hacer y no estoy muy seguro como hacerlos. No hay ningun otro chorizo tan ricas como los Colombianos!
Gracias!
Anonymous
What kind of rice did you use white rice, brown rice, etc?
Erica
White Rice
Kelly Ospina
Looks great! I make a version of this, except mine also includes shrimp with the chorizo.
Erica
Thank you guys!
Chris
Love it! Is there much difference between Columbian and Mexican chorizo? Around here I can only source the Mexican (raw/uncured) and Spanish (cured) types.
Erica
Chris- We have different kind of chorizos in Colombia,but I use uncured pork chorizos.Colombian chorizos are milder than Mexican chorizos, but you can use them for this dish.
norma
Que rico. stick to your ribs arroz and when you squeeze a bit of lime juice...makes my mouth water just to think of it.
Jeannie
Your rice dish looks delicious with the chunky chorizos on the top! lovely color!
Belinda @zomppa
What a beautiful classic (love the colors and use of blue!)
Steve Newell
This looks great. I am not familiar with Columbian Chorizo. Is it like italian sausage? Or more like Mexican Chorizo? Brazilian Linguica?
I'd love to try this, but we don't seem to have a noticeable Columbian presence in my area. Any hints would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Erica
Steve- You can use Mexican chorizo!
Anonymous
Colombia not Columbia